Oman Travel: What’s There?

Oman is one of the most prominent countries, located in the southwest Asia on the coast of Arabian Peninsula. It is surrounded by countries like United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. It is termed as one of the most stable and developed countries of this region. The population of Oman is approximately 2,845,000, spread over an area of 309,550 square kilometers. The best time to visit this Arab country is between October and March, which is the winter season in this desert country. Summers are hot and humid, and travelling is not recommended during the summers.

If you want to explore the real nomad beauty of Arabia, Oman is your destination. It is known mostly for the beautiful beaches, mountains, deserts and “wadi”, which are still unexplored and untouched. Its coastline is spread over 1700 kilometers and the clean, blue beaches are a treat for tourists. Most of the beaches in Oman are public, and some are also privately attached with beach resort hotels or are an official installment. One of the most popular beaches in Oman is the Qurum beach, where you can enjoy picnics, palm shades and, most of all, Jet Ski rides. Then, there are Marjan and Bandar Jissah, which is known for snorkeling and exotic sea life.

The second most exciting tourist attraction in Oman are the “Wadis”, which is basically a riverbed that has been dried up but has lots of vegetation and sometimes, also pools and running waters. These wadis are accessible with four wheel drives only. You can drive yourself on a rented four wheeler or try a local driver who is familiar with the terrain. In any case, it is always advisable to get a guide and go along a group.

The most famous wadis among tourists are Wadi Shab, Wadi Bani Khalid, Wadi Tiwi, Wadi Al Abaya, Wadi Dhaiqah etc. If you are a nature lover, this must be your destination, as these wadis are filled with natural springs, greenery, caves with underground water pools, where you can swim and splash, small villages, where you can observe the nomad culture, fruit farms etc.

Another must see in Oman is the system of Falaj, which is basically the water distribution system used mainly for irrigation, some of which is 1500 years old. Through this system, access to groundwater has been gained, which is then distributed amongst all the population. There are around 4,000 falaj in Oman, depicting the true miracle of engineering.

Oman also has ample historical sites, specifically over 500 forts and towers are perfect cultural landmarks. Some of these forts are located in the capital Muscat such as the Jalali and Mirani Fort. Oman is also a pretty good place for shopping for traditional stuff. The most famous thing to take along is definitely the Silver sheathed dagger, which is called Khanjar. Souvenirs made of silver are also a take home treat, such as silver rosewater shakers, silver nizwa boxes, and silver message holders and of course, silver jewelry.